Step-free path (NCC H8 livable housing)
A step-free path is the continuous level route from boundary or parking to the front door, required for new Class 1a homes under NCC 2022 Part H8 in adopting states.
Ask Chalkline about this →A step-free path is a continuous, level route connecting the street boundary, an accessible on-site car space, or the garage to a complying dwelling entrance, with no steps along the way. It is one of the six mandatory requirements of NCC 2022 Part H8 (Livable Housing Design) for new Class 1a houses in the states that have adopted H8. The point is that an older person, a pram, or someone with a temporary mobility limitation can reach the front door without negotiating a step.
The Deemed-to-Satisfy specifications, drawn from the ABCB Standard for Livable Housing Design 2022, are:
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum path width | 1000 mm |
| Maximum gradient (ramp) | 1:14 |
| Maximum crossfall | 1:40 |
| Landing at entry door | 1200 mm x 1200 mm, slope no steeper than 1:40 |
An exemption is available where site topography makes step-free access impractical, for example a steep block where a complying ramp would be excessively long or there is insufficient space. The exemption is decided by the certifier (the PCA), not self-assessed by the builder, and all other H8 requirements still apply even when the path itself is exempted.
H8 is live in Victoria, Queensland, the Northern Territory, the ACT, and South Australia; New South Wales and Western Australia opted out, so confirm whether it applies in your state before pricing the work. See NCC H8 Livable Housing Design for the full set of six requirements and the state adoption dates, and AS 1428 for the broader accessible-design standard it draws on.
Also known as: Step-free access path, accessible path of travel (livable housing), H8 access path.
Category: Accessibility / NCC.
Related
See also
References
- ABCB: NCC 2022 Volume Two Part H8 Livable Housing Design (verified 2026-05-09)
- ABCB: Livable Housing Design Standard FAQ (verified 2026-05-09)
Last updated: 2026-05-30. Verified: 2026-05-09. Quarterly review for currency.